Unlocked iPhone 5 on sale in US, cheaper than UK - but not cheap

It has only taken three months, but from last night, Americans will now be able to buy an unlocked iPhone 5, and it will set them back $649.

Available online since last night and in physical Apple Stores from today, it's a sign that the supply pressure on the flagship phone is easing off.

Slim, aluminum and now without a multi-year contract

Unlocked it's pretty pricey: $649 for the 16GB model, $749 for the 32GB model, and $849 for the 64GB model. But that's still a whole lot cheaper than unlocked models in the UK, which start at £529 for 16GB ($848), which means buying an unlocked 64GB in the US costs roughly the same as an unlocked 16GB model in Blighty. An unlocked 64GB iPhone in the UK costs an eyewatering £699, equivalent to $1,120: the cost of being a British fanboi is a high one.

The iPhone 5 has been available in the States since October, for $199 on a minimum two-year contract with AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. ®